Designer's Corner

Bioabsorbable meniscal screw

The meniscus, tissue between the moving bones in the knee joint, lubricates and absorbs energy. If torn, joint motion scrapes at the tear causing pain that sends many athletes and weekend warriors to the sideline. Surgeons typically "resect" or cut away the tear. With the Clearfix^TM Meniscal Screw they can repair it, and extend knee life.

The meniscal screw system improves the consistency of arthroscopic meniscal repairs in sports medicine by:

Controlling implant delivery with a needle-tipped driver that approximates and reduces a tear before screws are positioned

• Stabilizing tear with variable-pitch screw threads that compress torn tissue

• Minimizing articular condyle abrasion with a low-profile, headless-screw design.

Alan Chervitz, Innovasive Devices, 734 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752; (508) 460-8229 Ext. 113.

Airway smarts

Doctors, surgeons, and ambulance crews rely on the precise positioning of endotracheal tubes to ensure a continuous supply of oxygen to their patients. Amid distractions such as sirens, flashing lights, dangerous debris, and the cries of victims, paramedics may inadvertently insert the flexible tube into the esophagus, or a well positioned tube may move during transport.

A transducer-equipped endotracheal tube emits an ultrasonic wave that a receiver mounted on the front of the throat detects only if the tube is positioned properly. A green light on the system's handheld, battery-powered unit means it's in the right position in the trachea, and an alarm sounds if the tube shifts too much within the trachea at any time during treatment or transport to the hospital.

Jack Mottley, University of Rochester, Box 270033, Rochester, NY 14627; (716) 275-4308.

Submit your ideas and rough drawings for this section to John Lewis, Designer's Corner, Design News, 275 Washington St., Newton, MA 02458